‘Point Pleasant’ strains believability

What do you get when you combine “The Omen” with “The O.C.”?

A beach blanket blasphemy called “Point Pleasant” (9 p.m., Fox).

“Pleasant” kicks off with a meteorological bang.

After a sudden, violent storm knocks out local power and drives the teen scene from the beach, dreamy lifeguard Jesse (Sam Page) spies something, or someone, floating out among the distant waves. Ignoring the cries of his sulking girlfriend, Paula (Cameron Richardson) and fickle friend Terry (Brent Weber), he swims out to rescue the beautiful and mysterious Christina Nickson (Elisabeth Harnois).

Upon resuscitation, Christina opens her eyes with a start and the power goes back on all over New Jersey. Yes, she’s a girl with something extra.

Jesse takes her to the home of the local doctor, named Dr. Ben (Richard Burgi), husband to the brittle, churchgoing Meg (Susan Walters), who’s still reeling from the accidental death of her teenage daughter. This fact has turned her other daughter, Judy (Aubrey Dollar), into a reclusive combination of snarly and hip.

She may not score with all the local teenage boys, but she’s more interesting than the average TV teen.

Christina tells the Kramers a series of hard-to-fathom tales about being washed overboard from a cruise ship, a mysterious father, and a long-vanished mother who she’s determined to find. In the loopy logic of television dramas, the Kramers decide that it would be perfectly normal for the swept-away victim to live with them.

Unbeknownst to Christina (or anyone who hasn’t seen the commercials for this occult teen series), she’s really the daughter of the devil himself. And in spite of her sweet face and gentle demeanor, Christina brings out the hidden passions in her friends and neighbors.

“Pleasant” is no more preposterous than the best (or worst) Stephen King novel. And Harnois has the makings of the latest teen sensation. (Move over, Mischa Barton!)

The show does a credible job of mixing occult hooey with hormonal overdrive, and the makers of “Pleasant” seem to have fun riffing and referencing horror classics.

A mere mortal who tries to get between Christina and her “father” comes to a venomous “Omen”-esque demise. Christina’s own suppressed desire for Jesse results in a blow-up right out of “The Birds.”

And, much like “Twin Peaks,” the mystery behind “Pleasant” begins with the discovery of a waterlogged girl.

After this post-“American Idol” premiere, “Pleasant” will air Thursday night at 9 p.m. in its regular day and time slot.

There’s a new assistant district attorney on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC). That can only mean one thing: another gorgeous colleague for DA McCoy.

Annie Parisse joins the cast as ADA Alexandra Borgia.

Parisse, who recently finished shooting “Prime,” a theatrical comedy starring Uma Thurman and directed by Ben Younger (“Boiler Room”), is just the latest in a parade of attractive “Law & Order” attorneys played by Jill Hennessey, Carey Lowell, Angie Harmon and Elisabeth Rohm.

-Linda Hunt narrates “Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State” (8 p.m., KSPS). “State” examines the political and bureaucratic decisions that led to Auschwitz’s status as the largest death camp and includes chilling interviews with victims and perpetrators of the “final solution.”

Other highlights

Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (8 p.m., CBS): an artist who helps identify missing and murdered victims.

Ryan Seacrest hosts “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox).

A monster’s return on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).

The spinoff series “Antiques Roadshow FYI” (7 p.m., KSPS) offers tips to treasure hunters.

Leo studies vintage speeches on “The West Wing”(9 p.m., NBC).

Vaughn’s past turmoil resurfaces on “Alias” (9 p.m., ABC).

A sniper’s bullet finds a four-legged victim on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).

A packrat trades lives with a powerful executive on “Wife Swap” (10 p.m., ABC).

“National Body Challenge 2” (10 p.m., Discovery Health) offers an eight-week course in weight reduction and fitness.